Club Swimming - what is the "toughest" age group?

[Anonymous]

For boys its 15 and competing in the open category. Its nice when meets have a C final for the top 15 year old tho.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:11-12 is pretty brutal because the cut times get so much faster. There's not as much of a drop at 13-14.

That may be true for girls, but not for boys

[Anonymous]

This question totally depends on whether you’re talking about a girl or boy. For girls, the 11-12 age group is tougher. Much faster times and difference in puberty. Then, for many girls, 15-18 is tough because they getting bigger hips/boobs and gain weight. Many girls quit between 14-16 because they will never be as fast as they were at 12. For boys, it’s tough from 13 on for different reasons. The times keep getting faster and faster. The good news is that most boys get stronger during this time. But for those who are short/small, it can be tough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This question totally depends on whether you’re talking about a girl or boy. For girls, the 11-12 age group is tougher. Much faster times and difference in puberty. Then, for many girls, 15-18 is tough because they getting bigger hips/boobs and gain weight. Many girls quit between 14-16 because they will never be as fast as they were at 12. For boys, it’s tough from 13 on for different reasons. The times keep getting faster and faster. The good news is that most boys get stronger during this time. But for those who are short/small, it can be tough.

Boys really need to start weight training consistently to keep up in the open category. This helped my thin son immensely. Especially if you find a trainer who knows what swimmers need to focus on in the gym.

[Anonymous]

I think will be different for everyone. My kid didn't make any cuts at all when he was younger but once puberty hits, it's much easier to make qualifying time.

His fried on the other hand was making all kind of cuts when he was under 10. But struggling to make any after age 12 just because the growth hasn't progress much.

[Anonymous]

The “thoughest” age group is the one that my precious DD is in right now because I live vicariously through her and of course it’s solely her age that is causing her to be 10 seconds slower than the top seed in the 50 Fly even though the top seed is actually the same age at my DD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This question totally depends on whether you’re talking about a girl or boy. For girls, the 11-12 age group is tougher. Much faster times and difference in puberty. Then, for many girls, 15-18 is tough because they getting bigger hips/boobs and gain weight. Many girls quit between 14-16 because they will never be as fast as they were at 12. For boys, it’s tough from 13 on for different reasons. The times keep getting faster and faster. The good news is that most boys get stronger during this time. But for those who are short/small, it can be tough.

Boys really need to start weight training consistently to keep up in the open category. This helped my thin son immensely. Especially if you find a trainer who knows what swimmers need to focus on in the gym.

+1 Weight training helps tremendously, particularly for boys 11-13 when puberty hits. It takes advantage of the burst in testosterone to build muscle and strength quickly.

I've even noticed the same thing with girls in the same age bracket. The skinny girls that were so fast in 10&U get left behind by girls who develop wider backs and shoulders, along with muscular legs. Just look at the physiques of top swimmers and you'll see what I mean.

[Anonymous]

When your child hits the 11-12 bracket, you'll start to see significant stratification. Some of that is due to puberty, some is technique, and some is due to mental focus. Your child will need to increase in all three to remain competitive in the 13-14 bracket.